The Sutton Hoo Helmet

The helmet was buried in the Mound 1 ship burial at Sutton Hoo, a 27-metre ship beneath an earth mound, in a chamber whose occupant is not known for certain. In 1939 Edith Pretty, who owned the land, asked Basil Brown to investigate the largest mound; the excavation revealed the richest intact early medieval grave in Europe, and Pretty donated the finds to the British Museum that year. The helmet survived only as fragments. Herbert Maryon made a first reconstruction in 1945–46, shown at the Festival of Britain in 1951; Nigel Williams dismantled it and made the present reconstruction in 1970–71.

1. early 7th century

   CreatedD

2. 1939

   Excavated from the Mound 1 ship burial at Sutton HooC

   Found near the left side of the dead person's head, wrapped in cloth.

3. 1939

   Donated to the British Museum by Edith PrettyB

4. 1945–1946

   First reconstruction by Herbert MaryonA

5. 1951

   Shown at the Festival of BritainA

6. 1970–1971

   Second reconstruction by Nigel WilliamsA

   Includes fragments omitted from the first reconstruction.

Owned by · 1939

Edith PrettyB

Associated with · 1939

Basil BrownB

Associated with · 1939

Charles William PhillipsEmedium confidence

Associated with

Rædwald of East AngliaClow confidence

Associated with · 1945–1946

Herbert MaryonAmedium confidence

Associated with · 1970–1971

Nigel Williams (conservator)Amedium confidence

Excavated at · 1939

Sutton HooC

Culture of origin

Anglo-SaxonsB

Exhibited at · 1939–present

British MuseumF

1. A

   Wikipedia, 'Sutton Hoo helmet'

   ↗ View original record
2. B

   British Museum, 'Edith Pretty'

   Catalogue record

   ↗ View original record
3. C

   British Museum, 'The Anglo-Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo'

   Catalogue record

   ↗ View original record
4. D

   britishmuseum.org

   ↗ View original record
5. E

   Wikipedia, 'Sutton Hoo'

   ↗ View original record
6. F

   British Museum, Room 41: Sutton Hoo and Europe

   ↗ View original record